Windows 9 might come as a free download, but only to certain users

Microsoft will release a second major Windows 8.1 update this year – Windows 8.1 Update 2 – which will be available free of charge to Windows 8.1 Update 1 users, hacker group WZOR has revealed. The group also says that Microsoft will sell Windows 8.1 Update 2 for an affordable price to Windows users who are running earlier Windows versions on their machines and want to upgrade to the latest OS version.

WZOR also revealed that Windows 9 might be released as a free update for Windows users who have Windows 8.1 Update 2 installed, or at a substantial discount. Apparently a decision on the matter has not been made yet. Previous reports from the same source have also indicated that Microsoft’s upcoming major Windows release may be available as a free download.

Finally, WZOR has apparently revealed that Windows 9 Enterprise may have the ability to disable Metro 2.0. The company is expected to have a “significant” internal event from June 23rd through June 27th, at which point Windows 8.1 Update 2 might receive an RTM Escrow status.

The hacker group said that Microsoft has tightened its Windows security, making leaks nearly impossible – apparently, employees that want to use the latest builds will get personal Windows copies that will make it easy for the company to track down leakers.

The new security polices around unreleased versions of Windows are apparently targeting Microsoft’s China offices in particular, with the country being a major source of Windows-related leaks in the past.